A cleaning firm from the Black Country is turning its hand to battling the spread of swine flu.

Atkins HSR Ltd, in Rushall, Walsall, usually works closely with police and housing associations across the UK to clear up former drug dens and murder scenes.

The Winterley Lane firm is now being tapped up by fellow-members of the Black Country Chamber of Commerce keen to keep swine flu at bay.

Director Nathan Atkins said: “A lot of companies have been in contact asking us if we do decontamination for swine flu and that is something we are now looking to market in the coming weeks.

“The service will include going into offices or workplaces out of hours and doing a full decontamination.

“We are a member of the Black Country Chamber of Commerce and a lot of companies in the chamber have been reporting staff absenteeism because people have either got swine flu or are afraid of catching it. Our service will hopefully help avoid mass absences.”

President of the Black Country Chamber of Commerce, Peter Matthews, said: “There is certainly more awareness of hygiene in the workplace in the West Midlands than there has ever been before and that has come about in the last few months.

“I have heard of managers handing out wipes to staff. There is a concern over the welfare of employees and a decontamination service like this cannot hurt.”

The Walsall firm said it will be able to reduce or control risk and hazard or infection from cross contamination from hard surfaces such as desks, doors and common areas where pathogens can remain active for up to 48 hours.

Mr Atkins added: “The service we offer will promote employee confidence booster and is most likely to reduce absenteeism too.”